We can all benefit from saving a few bucks here and there. An easy way to accomplish this is by making some energy-efficient changes throughout your home. Upgrading your HVAC equipment or adding a smart thermostat, for example, offers more control over your HVAC equipment, leading to a more energy-efficient home and savings on your monthly energy bills.
Continue below to learn more about 4 ways you can make energy-efficient home improvements.
1. Use a Smart Thermostat
If you still use a round-dial thermostat and control it manually, try taking a step toward the future by installing a smart, or Wi-Fi, thermostat – which includes numerous features to make your home more energy efficient.
The function homeowners appreciate the most is having the ability to control their smart thermostats from anywhere with their smartphone or other smart device. For instance, when you forget to adjust your thermostat before leaving for vacation, you can simply use your smartphone and make the necessary adjustment.
Like a programmable thermostat, a smart thermostat allows you to schedule your home’s temperature based on the time of day and day of the week so you’re not heating or cooling an empty house. Smart thermostats also feature the capacity to understand your temperature preferences over time and automatically make energy-efficient corrections. They even provide monthly energy reports that illustrate how much energy you’re using and when so you can make changes to cut costs.
If you’re wondering how to get a free smart thermostat, talk to your utility company to learn if there are any discounts or free smart thermostats offered.
2. Routine HVAC Maintenance
Regrettably, lots of homeowners often forget to have their heating and cooling systems maintained. While this may not seem important, ignoring maintenance can lead to a number of issues, including inefficiency, breakdowns, and a shorter system lifespan.
During an HVAC maintenance service, a heating and cooling technician will inspect your HVAC system, clean necessary components, and identify minor problems before they create bigger, more expensive repair issues. Tune ups keep HVAC systems running in optimal condition, which means they use less energy to heat and cool your home. This will lower your energy bills, prolong the lifespan of HVAC equipment, and lead to fewer repairs.
We suggest two HVAC tune ups every year – once during the spring before summer and again during the fall before the arrival of frigid weather.
3. Getting rid of Your Worn-Down, Inefficient HVAC Equipment
Unfortunately, like any appliance, HVAC systems have a shelf life and ultimately need to be replaced. New heaters and cooling products are much more energy efficient than models sold just over a decade ago. Luckily, local HVAC companies like Woody's Sudden Service can handle professional services such as furnace installation in Manassas.
Well-maintained furnaces and air conditioners can live about 15-20 years. If your systems are within that period of time, it is often be a good idea to replace them early to minimize the risk of untimely equipment failure that can leave you cold and uncomfortable on a cold winter night. If your system is about 15 years old and has a problem that needs an expensive repair, it’s definitely time to replace it. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, getting a new HVAC system can sometimes save you between 20-40% on your monthly energy bills, so you’ll get back some of the costs of installing a new system.
A professional HVAC technician can help you determine the most energy efficient HVAC system on the market. As a general rule of thumb, seek out HVAC systems that are Energy Star certified, indicating the equipment fulfills rigid guidelines established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. LENNOX HVAC systems are some of the most efficient systems on the market, boasting both high AFUE and SEER ratings. AFUE is for heating systems and measures how well they convert fuel to heat. SEER, on the other hand, is used to quantify the efficiency of air conditioning systems.
Contact a reputable HVAC provider like Woody's Sudden Service for air conditioning installation in Manassas.
4. Look for High Efficiency Air Filters
When you’re searching for new HVAC filters, keep in mind that not all air filters are the same. Specific air filters are far more effective than others, resulting in lower energy bills and a clean home.
The effectiveness of HVAC air filters is scored by their Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV rating. The MERV scale ranges from 1-20; the higher the number, the more effective the filters are. It’s worthwhile to note, though, that high-efficiency air filters can sometimes impede airflow too much depending on the type of HVAC system you own. It’s beneficial to read the owner’s manual before buying a filter to find the ideal model for your system.